Temperature controlling apparatus for internal combustion engines



Oct. 22, 1935. 1 G. HARTDORN 2,017,967 TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION .ENGINES Filed May 9,71929 PatentedA Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEMPERATURE CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 14 Claims.

My invention relates to shutter -control for automobile radiators and has for an object to provide a novel arrangement whereby the shutters will be under direct and sole control of a thermostat or like heat sensitive device while the engine of the automobile is running, but will be automatically cut off from such control as soon as the engine is stopped.

Another object of the invention is to employ the power of an automobile engine to establish an operative relation between a thermostat and the shutters of a radiator, which relation is rendered inoperative when the engine is stopped.

A more specific object of the invention is to use suction created by the engine to throw in a clutch which establishes said operative relation between the thermostat and shutters, and which clutch when thus thrown in will remain fixed despite variations of suction, but will release and terminate such operative relation when the suction is reduced practically to zero.

The present invention is a variant of that shown in my copending application, Serial No. 59,253, iiled September 29, 1925 and since matured into Patent No. 1,775,344. In the specic embodiment illustrated in said application, I showed a fixed thermostat and a connection between the thermostat and shutters comprising a pair of relatively movable members which were locked in fixed relative position by a clutch controlled by the suction of the engine. In the present invention, I provide a substantially fixed connection between the thermostat and shutters but the thermostat is in a floating condition and is unable to control the shutters so long as the engine is not running. However, when the engine is started I employ the power of the engine (preferably in the form of suction) to establish the thermostat in flxed operative position, and I use a clutch to maintain the thermostat in such position as long as the engine is running.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved clutch mechanism for use in the control of radiator shutters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very neat and compact arrangement in which the clutch mechanism and means for operating the same are contained mainly within the radiator.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for locking the clutch mechanism so as to prevent engine control of the shutters in summer time.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description of a pre- (Cl. 12S-174) ferred embodiment and thereafter the novelty and scope of the invention will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing;

Figure 1 is a fragmentary View, in horizontal 5 section, of an automobile radiator and shutter mechanism showing my improved thermostatic control applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a view, in longitudinal section, of the clutch and controlling mechanism therefor, the l0 section being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing the parts on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section taken 15 on the line ll-i of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a skeleton view, in perspective, of the shutter controlling mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a view in section, of a detail, the section being taken on the line 6 3 of Fig. 3.

The drawing shows my invention as applied to a radiator equipped with vertical shutters, in other words, the shutter vanes turn about a vertical axis. A section of a radiator is indicated at IB in Fig. l and is provided with a shell II 25 projecting on the forward side thereof. The shutter vanes I2 are pivoted at the top and bottom in core frame members I3. Only one of these members is shown in the drawing, but it will be understood that there is a core member 30 I3 at the top and bottom of the radiator shell and the vanes have vertical pivot pins I4 journaled in these frame members. The shutter vanes are also pivotally connected at points I5 to an operating bar It. A spring I'l connected 35 at one end to a core frame member I3 and to the other end to the bar I serves to hold the shutters normally in the closed position shown in Fig. 1.

The radiator I9 is formed near its upper end 40 with a tubular chamber I8 extending therethrough and adapted to receive a thermostat I9 for operating the shutters. The thermostat may be of any suitable type. As illustrated it consists of a series of disc shaped chambers lled with expansive ud which will cause the thermostat to expand when the heat applied thereto reaches a predetermined degree. The outer end of the thermostat is connected by a link 20 to one arm of a bell crank 2|the other arm of 50 which is connected by the rod 22 to one end of the bar I6. The bell crank is journaled on a suitable support 23 secured to the outer face of the radiator. The inner end of the thermostat bears against a plate 24 which serves as an 55 which slides in a xed bearing 26. A flange 21,

at the inner end of the tubular stem engages the inner end of therbearing to limit outward slid- Ying movement of the stem.

Secured to the inner face of the radiator and closing the inner end of the tubular chamber I8 is a plater28 which carries a cylinder 29- projecting away from the radiator. This cylinder is open at its outer end but is Vclosed atits inner end by the plate 28. A piston 30 is 'adapted to slide inthe cylinder, this Vpiston is provided with Van annular outwardly cupped packing ring 3! which is normally pressed against the wall of the cylinder by a spring 32 supported in an annular flange member 33. The piston 3Q is of UV-shape'in axial jecting from the plate Y28. However, there is sufficient clearance between the piston and said boss to Vreceive a coil spring 35. One end of the spring bears against the plate 28 and the other against the piston 30, tending to force the kpiston outward or towardY the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. Y' Y YSecured to thepiston 3U by means of a strap 36V isa pin 31 whichV enters the tubular stem 2,5. 4The boss 34 is'holow and forms a recess 38 in the plate 28 into which recess the stem 25 andthe pin 31 kmay enter when in retracted position. The strap 36 is in the formY of a loopV Y connected at its center to the pin 31 and at each end to thepiston 38. Each leg of the strap,

` after passing the flange 21 of the stem 25, is

bent inward or toward the plate 24, so as to clear theplate 28 and enter'V the recess 38 when thev partsV areV in retracted position. Thereafter, each leg is bent parallel to the plate 28 and then at right angles thereto, passing through a slot 39 in the plate 28 just outside of the cylinder '29. After passing ythe outer end Yof the cylinder each strap leg is bent'at right angles` toward the piston to which'it is secured at the point 46.

TheV bearing 26 Yis supported by. a spider 4| whichris formed with a pair of legs 42. These legs project radially from the spiderand at substantially right angles Vto the legsof'the strap 36 and are then bent outwardand Vpass through slots 43 in the plate 28. The legs are then bent to lform feet44 which are secured to the` plate 28 by means of bolts 45. These bolts, as shown best in Fig. 6, are flxed'in theiplate 28 and are provided with nuts 46 which bear on opposite sides of Vthe feetY 44 and which may beY adjusted torvary the position of the bearing 26,

as desired. Y Y

Fitted to slide within the tubular stem isa V'sleeve `41. This sleeve is closed at one end byV ,m'fmeans of a ,headV 48 threaded Y thereon. Y f K pin 31 .enters the sleeve 41r and -is provided with The a head 49 which slides freely within the sleeve V41 Vbut which is prevented from being withdrawnV therefrom by annular shoulders 50 formed on the sleeve. In other Words, as the pin is moved Y The plate 24 is secured to a tubular stem 25 Y recess 55 formed in the bearing 26.

v section and telescopes over a cylindrical boss'34 proin and out by movement of the piston there is a lost motion between said pin and the sleeve.

The outer surface of the sleeve 41 is adapted toV engage balls l fitted in theholes -52 in the tubular stem 25. the outer surface of the sleeve is stepped, having one long step 53 of reduced diameter and a short step 54 of slightly larger diameter. However, the balls 5l are of such diameter that they are at all timesrretained inthe holes 52. When the balls are engaged by the step 54 they are forced outward and project into'an annular The stem 25 is'then locked against sliding movement in the bearing 26 by engagement of the balls 5I with the inner end wall of the recess 55 (the wall at the-rightl hand end, as viewed in Fig. 2).

' When the sleeve has been retracted or moved toward the right, in Fig. 2, so that the step 54 Y will clear the balls the latter may then -move inward upon the step .53 and'out of engagement with the recess 55, thereby unlocking or declutchlng the tubular stem from the bearing 26. A spring 56 is fitted between the spider 4l and the flange 21 which tends to move the stem 25 25Y toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2,'whenever Y such movement is permitted by retraction of the Y sleeve y41. Y

A tube 51 connects the working chamber of the cylinder with the intake manifold of the 3()A engine of the automobile or with any other part which will produce suction when the engine is operated, and hence when the engine4 operates and suction is produced in the cylinder 29, the piston 3U will be Ymoved against the pressure of 35 spring to the position shown Vin Fig. 2. When,V however, the suction is relieved, the piston will be moved by the spring 35, outward or towardY the right, as Viewed in Fig. 2.

One leg of the strap 36 is formed with a slot 0 Y 58 which is engaged by a bolt 59 projecting from the cylinder and on this bolt are a pair of nuts 60 which may be adjusted to clamp the strap to the cylinder, Yso as to prevent movement of the piston andY thus render the device inoperative. i

The operation of the apparatus is', as follows: Figures 1 and 2 show the abutment 24 in itsY extended position, that is, inthe position to holdV the thermostat in operative relation to theshutter. This Vposition is assumed as soon as the engine is started, for during the first few strokes of the engine sufficient suction will be produced the step 54 will force the balls 5I outward into v Y engagement with the recess of the bearing 26; This done, the abutment 24 will be maintained Yin its position despite variations of suction in the cylinder.Y In other words, the pis- Y'.

ton may move back and forth in-the cylinder, in response to Variations of suction without in 1 the least affecting the position of the abutmentV 24 because the pin 31 will merely 'slide jback andy forthY within the sleeve 41 without moving the 7'0 latter, and the balls 5l being pressed outward into the recess in the bearing 26 will prevent the stem 25 from being retracted by the spring 56. f

While in this operative position the thermostat,

when heated sufliciently, will operate the shut-'75 As shown clearly in Fig. 2, '5

ter vanes in the usual manner, opening them in accordance with the heat developed in the radiator. The opening of the shutters is resisted by the spring l1 so that as the thermostat contracts, the shutters will correspondingly close. Thus, as long as the engine is running the shutters will be under direct control of the thermostat, but as soon as the engine stops running, the suction will cease and the air in the cylinder 29 will be restored to atmospheric pressure, permitting the piston to move outward under action of the spring 35 and retract the pin 3l. As the latter nears its eXtreme retracted position the head 49 will engage the shoulders G on the sleeve 4l and will withdraw the step 54 from the balls "5I, permitting the balls to move radially inward and the spring 56 to retract the stem 25. The plate or abutment 24 is thus retracted and even though the thermostat might have been holding the shutters wide open previous to the stoppage of the engine, the shutters would now be closed immediately by the action of the spring I1. Thus, the heat in the radiator will be conserved and will be available to prevent excessive cooling or freezing of the radiator and also to assist in restarting the engine.

In the summer time it is desirable to keep the shutters under thermostatic control and at such time it is not desirable to have the clutch mechanism operate. The piston 30 may, therefore, be locked against action by adjusting the nuts G to clamp the strap 36 to the cylinder 29 with the abutment 2d in advanced position shown in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that I have provided a very compact arrangement for controlling the position of the thermostat and that the mechanism is largely confined within the radiator with only a portion thereof projecting from the rear of the radiator.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention I reserve the right to make such changes in construction and arrangements of parts as fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In combination with an engine, a thermostat, a temperature control device for the engine, a connection between the thermostat and the device, a backing against which the thermostat may react to operate said device, means actuated by the engine for moving said backing against and away from said thermostat, and means for positively locking the backing in advanced position against the thermostat.

2. In combination, a thermostat, a temperature control device, a connection between the thermostat and the device, a backing against which the thermostat may react to operate said device, suction means for moving said backing against said thermostat, and resilient means for holding said backing normally in retracted position.

3. In combination with an engine and a shutter therefor, heat responsive mechanism connected with the shutter for operating the same, a thrust member against which said mechanism may react to operate the shutter, means normally holding said member retracted, and means actuated by the engine for advancing said member to render said mechanism operative.

4. In combination with an engine and a shutter therefor, heat responsive mechanism connected with the shutter for operating the same, a thrust member against which said mechanism may react to operate the shutter, means normally holding said member retracted, and suction means responsive to the running condition of the engine for advancing said member to render said mechanism operative.

5. In combination with an engine radiator and a shutter therefor, a thermostat connected with 5 said shutter, a member against which said thermostat may react to operate the shutter, said member being normally not fixed, and suction means for establishing said member in xed relation to the thermostat.

6. In combination with an engine and shutters therefor, a thermostat connected with said shutters, a backing against which said -thermostat may react to operate said shutters, said backing being normally not fixed, and means controlled by the power of the engine for establishing the backing in xed relation to the thermostat whereby the thermostat may operate said shutters.

7. In combination with an engine and shutters therefor, a thermostat connected with said shutters, a backing for said thermostat, said backing being normally not xed, and suction means responsive to the running condition of the engine for establishing the backing in fixed relation to the thermostat, whereby the thermostat reacts against the backing to operate said shutters.

8. In combination with an engine and shutters therefor, a thermostat connected with the shutters, a movable backing for said thermostat, means normally holding said backing in inactive position, means controlled by the engine for advancing the backing to such position that the thermostat may react thereagainst to operate said shutters, and means responsive to the running condition oi the engine for locking the backing in said position as long as the engine is running.

9. In combination with an engine and shutters therefor, a thermostat connected with the shutters, a movable backing for said thermostat, 4Q means normally holding said backing in inactive position, means controlled by the engine for advancing the backing to such position that the thermostat may react thereagainst to operate said shutters, a clutch for holding the backing in advanced position, and means for releasing said clutch when the engine stops running.

10. In combination with an engine and shutters therefor, a thermostat connected with the shutters, a movable backing for said thermostat, means normally holding said backing in inactive position, means controlled by the engine for advancing the backing to such position that the thermostat may react thereagainst to operate said shutters, means responsive to the running condition of the engine for locking the backing in said position as long as the engine is running, and means for adjusting said position.

11. The combination with an engine, a radiator therefor, shutters for said radiator anda spring normally holding the shutters closed, the radiator having a chamber therein, of a thermostat in said chamber, a connection from one end of the thermostat to the shutters, a movable thrust member in said chamber, and means operated by the engine for advancing the thrust member against the other end of the thermostat to provide a backing against which the thermostat may react to open the shutters in response to temperature conditions of the radiator.

12. In combination with an engine, a radiator therefor, shutters for said radiator and a spring normally holding the shutters closed, the radiator having a chamber therein, of a thermostat Vin said chamber, a connection from one end of `the thermostat to the shutters, a movable thrust Vnormally holding the shutters closed, the radiator Y having a chamber'therein, of a thermostat in said chamber, a connection from one end of the lthermostat' tothe shutters, a movable thrust memberin Ysaid chamber, means operated by the Yengine for Vadvancing the thrust member against the other end ofthe thermostat'to provide a backing against which the thermostat may react to openthe shutters in response to temperature conditions of the radiator, a clutch for holding the thrust member in advanced position, and means for releasing the clutch when the engine stops running, said clutch and said releasing meansY being also contained within said chamber.

14. In combination, a thermostat, a temperature control' device, a connection between the thermostat and said device, a backing against which the thermostat may react to operate said 'lo device, suction means for moving said backing against said thermostat, resilient means for holding said backingnormally in retracted position, and manually operable means for preventing re-V traction of said vbacking after the backing has 15 Ybeen moved against said thermostat.

LOUIS G. HARTDORN, Y 

